Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Puerto Princesa Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Puerto Princesa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $688 in Puerto Princesa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,032 in Puerto Princesa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,376 in Puerto Princesa.

Living in Baguio is roughly 11% more expensive than in Puerto Princesa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Puerto Princesa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$4.31 ₱270

-6.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$16.98 ₱1,065

-2.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$4.41 ₱277

-37.19%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.32 ₱146

-20.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.90 ₱56.3

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.49 ₱30.74

-32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.21 ₱75.9

-14.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$2.35 ₱147

-33.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$0.94 ₱59.0

22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.76 ₱47.93

32.89%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.73 ₱108

16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.26 ₱330

-5.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$5.51 ₱345

-37.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$6.83 ₱429

14.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.25 ₱141

2.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$0.89 ₱56.0

71.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.09 ₱131

10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.17 ₱73.5

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.54 ₱96.5

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.38 ₱86.7

28.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$0.80 ₱50.1

-16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.68 ₱42.51

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.89 ₱181

3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$7.26 ₱455

16.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$1.00 ₱62.8

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.30 ₱81.3

56.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.56

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$10.30 ₱646

24.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.78 ₱48.99

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.22 ₱13.73

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.92 ₱120

-2.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.05 ₱65.8

14.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$17.2K ₱1.1M

24.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-0.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$138 ₱8,659

$61.2 ₱3,840

125.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.68 ₱1,109

$10.89 ₱683

62.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$24.36 ₱1,528

-3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$31.20 ₱1,957

-30.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$4.43 ₱278

18.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.21 ₱327

-1.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$131 ₱8,230

$135 ₱8,462

-2.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$8,668 ₱543.6K

24.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$31.74 ₱1,991

-7.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$19.57 ₱1,228

-2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$72.4 ₱4,538

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$54.8 ₱3,434

2.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$281 ₱17.6K

41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$203 ₱12.7K

-1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$507 ₱31.8K

68.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$313 ₱19.6K

47.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

$2,541 ₱159.4K

2.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$1,043 ₱65.4K

-11.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$226 ₱14.2K

-20.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.12

-16.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $281 in Puerto Princesa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Puerto Princesa pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Puerto Princesa. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $171, with Puerto Princesa cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baguio vs Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto Princesa wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Puerto Princesa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Puerto Princesa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $399 in Baguio versus $281 in Puerto Princesa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $688 in Puerto Princesa – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Puerto Princesa runs roughly 24% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Puerto Princesa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Puerto Princesa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $688 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Puerto Princesa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Puerto Princesa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Puerto Princesa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.